Whilst there is certainly a lot of disagreement and
debate around the potential health benefits of alcohol
there is no uncertainty about the risks of alcohol
consumption, particularly when in excess. We can
confidently say that alcohol causes inflammation of the
liver, which can lead to long term irreversible damage
such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. We also know that
excess drinking causes increased cardiovascular risks
such as high blood pressure and cardiomyopathy
(damage to the muscle in the heart). Alcohol is, in fact,
directly or indirectly implicated in over 60 medical
diseases/conditions, from obvious ones such as throat
cancers and pancreatitis, to not so obvious ones
including nerve damage, which can lead to incontinence
and erectile dysfunction.
In addition to the physical harms from alcohol use,
there are a myriad of mental health issues related
to alcohol. Over time, alcohol worsens anxiety and
depression due to the effects it has on our brain
chemistry. People who consume alcohol in excess
often find it harder to manage day to day stresses and
can quickly find themselves addicted to alcohol due
to rebound anxiety and agitation which occurs when
they stop drinking. The intoxicating effects of alcohol
result in poor judgement and increased impulsiveness,
which can increase the risks of suicide or violence in
an individual. Heavy consumption of alcohol can result
in dementia and memory impairment. People who
are alcohol dependent are at very high risk of certain
types of neurological conditions such as Wernicke’s
encephalitis and Korsakoff’s syndrome. This is due to
nutritional deficiencies in vitamin B1 or thiamine, which
is essential in our brains for the storage and retrieval of
information.
We also know that people who suffer from mental
health conditions are more at risk of problem drinking,
in addition to smoking and illicit drug use. Often, it can
be quite difficult to determine whether alcohol use has
led to the mental health condition, or vice versa. From a
clinical perspective it is important to look at individuals
in a holistic way and often that means treating
comorbidities alongside each other.
Treatment options for alcohol misuse and
dependence have progressed, and clinicians now have
a number of approaches to assist people in managing
problem drinking. There is a good evidence base for
psychological interventions, as well as pharmacological
options. Most GPs have a good understanding of the
management of mild alcohol withdrawal. More severe
cases need to be managed within inpatient settings, as
the risk of complications of unmanaged withdrawal can
be life threatening. Withdrawal symptoms are treated
with medications to reduce the risk of seizures and
neurological damage. Following this, relapse prevention
strategies can include psychological treatment, as well
as a variety of medications, some of which are shown to
reduce cravings in the medium to long term.
Ramsay Health Care has recently opened The
Southport Private Hospital, offering holistic care for
mental health patients via a multidisciplinary team who
will deliver quality evidenced based treatment options
for people wishing to address their problem drinking.
Interventions will include the management of alcohol
withdrawal and treatment of psychiatric co-morbidities,
including programs aimed at relapse prevention.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO SUFFER
FROM MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE MORE
AT RISK OF PROBLEM DRINKING, IN ADDITION
TO SMOKING AND ILLICIT DRUG USE.
28 Pindara Magazine 2017